The War in Maryland. Full Particulars of the Battles of Tuesday and Wednesday-
The Result Considered a Decided Union Success

HEADQUARTERS, Tuesday Evening, Sept.
16. -During this afternoon information was received at headquarters showing that the enemy
were recrossing the river and concentrating their forces on the ridge of hills outside of
the town of Sharpsburg to within three miles of the main body of our army. Jackson left
Harper's Ferry this morning-his troops commencing to arrive during the afternoon. When it
became evident that Gen. Lee was disposed to engage our forces in battle at this point,
Gen. McClellan sent for Franklin's corps and (Darius Nash) Couch's division, who were
about seven miles distant, on the other side of Elk Ridge.
There was considerable artillery firing during
the day on both sides, resulting in our having about forty men killed and wounded. Among
the seriously wounded was Major Arnedst, of the 1st New York Artillery, who was struck in
the side by a piece of shell.
The disposition of the troops for the impending
battle was as follows: Gen. (Edwin Vose) Sumner's corps, with Banks' division, to occupy
the center; Gen. Hooker's corps, with the Pennsylvania Reserves, and Franklin's corps, on
the right, and (Fitz John) Porter's corps on the left of Sumner, and Burnside on the
extreme left, with the view of turning the enemy's right flank. Gen. Pleasanton supported
the centre with 2,500 cavalry and four batteries.
Gen. Hooker in the afternoon crossed Antietam
Creek, and took a position on the hills facing Sbarpsburg and three miles to the right of
Keetsville (Keedysville). His troops got into action about dusk, which lasted two hours,
during which the enemy were driven about half a mile, with considerable loss. The
Pennsylvania Reserves, who were in the front, suffered much.
The night was occupied in getting the troops in
their respective positions, while ammunition trains and ambulances were forwarded to their
respective commands.

The Battle of Wednesday

WEDNESDAY EVENING,
Sept. 17.-- p.m.--This has been an eventful day in the history of the rebellion. A battle
has taken place, in which the Army of the Potomac has again been victorious, and which
exceeds in extent any battle heretofore fought on this continent.
At the dawn of day the battle was renewed on the center and right by Generals Hooker and
Sumner, who, after a sharp contest of two hours, drove the enemy about one mile. The
rebels rallied shortly, and with terrible loss regained most of the ground. At this time
the fearless and indomitable Gen. Hooker received a shot in the ankle and was carried from
the field. The command of his troops now devolved upon Gen. Sumner. Gen. (Israel Bush)
Richardson, commanding a division, was severely wounded at the same time (and soon died of
the wound).
Gen. Sumner, determined to retake the lost
ground, ordered the troops to advance, which they did with a will, driving the rebels
before them with great slaughter. They not only retook the ground but drove them a quarter
of a mile beyond. In this action Gen. (Joseph King Fenno) Mansfield was shot through the
lungs and died soon after. He was at the head of his troops with sword waving over his
head, cheering on his men at the time he received his wound.
During this time the troops under Generals
Burnside and Porter had not been idle. They drove the enemy from the line of the Antietam
creek on the main road to Sharpsburg, built a bridge, the old one having been burnt, and
occupied the opposite bank. The loss here was considerable.
The troops now held both sides of the creek. To
get possession of the ridge of hills on the right and left hand sides of the road, from
where the rebels were thundering away with artillery, was a task not easily accomplished.
General Sykes's brigade, with the assistance of General Sumner, crossed the ridge on the
right hand side, after considerable trouble and loss, the rebels running in all
directions.
It was now 5 O'clock, and all the enemy's
positions bad been carried except the one on the left hand side of the road. To perform
this duty General Burnside was assigned. The artillery opened and the infantry advanced,
and the point was carried at a charge. They were, however, forced to retire before a
largely superior force. Knowing that if they lost this ridge a complete rout of their army
would be the result, they fought with great desperation.
Darkness now overtook the two armies, and
hostilities ceased, as if by mutual consent. The battle lasted from 5 o'clock in the
morning till 7 o'clock at night, without a momentary cessation.
The conduct of the troops, without exception,
was all that any general could wish. Several regiments of new troops, who were in action
for the first time, behaved admirably.
Hundreds of Marylanders were present to witness
the battle, which could be seen from many of the surrounding hills. The sharp rattle of
fifty thousand muskets, and the thunder of a hundred pieces of artillery, nor the
consequent excited movements of such armies is not often witnessed.
It is impossible at this writing to form any
correct idea of our loss or that of the enemy, but it is heavy on both sides. Ours will
probably reach in killed and wounded 10,000. That of the enemy will not exceed it.
The enemy's dead, which nearly all fell into
our hands, were thickly strewn over the fields, laying in heaps in many places.
Our wounded were immediately carried from the
field, and the best possible attention given them.
When Gen. Hooker fell, Gen. McClellan
immediately proceeded to the right, where he was enthusiastically received, and by his
presence added much to our success in recovering the ground lost. He was on the center and
on the left as well, anxiously watching the progress of the battle and giving directions
as to the manner of attack. He is in his tent to-night for the first time since he left
Frederick city.